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HONG KONG - H1N1 was detected in Hong Kong?s slaughterhouse during regular influenza virus surveillance for pigs in Hong Kong?s slaughterhouse. Despite the detection of pandemic H1N1 in pigs in Hong Kong, it is unlikely that Hong Kong will impose any import suspension of pork or pigs in the future on the grounds of H1N1 concerns.
The Hong Kong government did not take any trade action against pig or pork imports in 2009 when there existed the threat of H1N1. The report did not identify the origin of the infected hogs as either imported from China or raised locally.
To monitor influenza virus activity in pigs, the University of Hong Kong has conducted a regular influenza surveillance program for over a decade. The Center for Food Safety, the food safety authority in Hong Kong, assists the program by collecting blood and tracheal and nasal swabs from pigs in the major slaughterhouse twice a month. (This is the only major slaughterhouse in Hong Kong slaughtering over 3,000 pigs each day and accounting for over 80 percent of the daily production in the territory. The other two slaughterhouses slaughter less than 20 percent of Hong Kong?s daily pig supplies. Hong Kong has a daily consumption of about 4,500 pigs. Imports from China account for over 95 percent while the rest is supplied by local pig farms).
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The Hong Kong government did not take any trade action against pig or pork imports in 2009 when there existed the threat of H1N1. The report did not identify the origin of the infected hogs as either imported from China or raised locally.
To monitor influenza virus activity in pigs, the University of Hong Kong has conducted a regular influenza surveillance program for over a decade. The Center for Food Safety, the food safety authority in Hong Kong, assists the program by collecting blood and tracheal and nasal swabs from pigs in the major slaughterhouse twice a month. (This is the only major slaughterhouse in Hong Kong slaughtering over 3,000 pigs each day and accounting for over 80 percent of the daily production in the territory. The other two slaughterhouses slaughter less than 20 percent of Hong Kong?s daily pig supplies. Hong Kong has a daily consumption of about 4,500 pigs. Imports from China account for over 95 percent while the rest is supplied by local pig farms).
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